Christian Louboutin

“Christian Louboutin shoes say one simple word: sex,” says fashion journalist Hadley Freeman. The designer’s seductive, red-soled shoes are among the most instantly recognizable—and widely imitated—in the world. While his unique styles are inspired by his love of art, nature, and travel, they are also influenced by his more risqué interest in fetish shoes. Louboutin is adamant that his work does not follow trends, but he frequently sets them—in particular, he has been credited with the return of sky-high stiletto heels.

The Paris-born designer has been fascinated with sexy heels since his childhood in the 1970s. Although bulky platforms then predominated, he became acquainted with more glamorous styles through his youthful observations. A sign in an art museum featured a drawing of a stiletto with an “x” through it, in an attempt to protect the mosaic floors from damage. Louboutin’s early passion for showgirls also inspired his future work—not surprisingly, he was more interested in their alluring footwear than their performances.

Louboutin began working for Charles Jourdan in 1981, and later took freelance jobs for such prominent labels as Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. His freelance stints were usually unsuccessful, however, as Louboutin wanted to design according to his own taste. In the late 1980s, he took a brief hiatus from the fashion world, working instead as a landscape designer. He returned to shoe design in 1992—this time launching his own line and opening a Paris boutique. Later that year, the New York Times reported that Louboutin’s shop was a “must-stop” for Americans who wanted “fine-boned, feminine footwear.”

The designer’s renown has grown rapidly in the twenty-first century. Some clients believe that Louboutin’s joy for designing is apparent in each style he produces—a feeling that is passed on to the wearer. He closely oversees the production of his shoes, and his keen understanding of construction and quality makes them well worth their high price tag. Still, Louboutin attributes much of his success to his imagination. “You should be completely free and then find solutions,” he says. “Don’t start to shrink yourself by only doing things that are possible.”